Black Cherry

Latin Name: Prunus serotina

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Leaves are leathery in texture
  • Finely toothed margins
  • Alternate leaf pattern
  • White flowers
  • Bark is smooth when tree is young
  • Bark of larger trunks is thin and has long, narrow cracks, and is scaly

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial

Where Commonly Found:

  • Pasture and forage interface
  • Shady areas

Time of Most Concern:

  • When leaves are wilted, although green leaves, twigs, bark , and seeds all contain toxic components

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Cyanogenic glycosides: prunasin and amygdalin

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • Wilting leaves

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Cattle
  • Horses
  • Sheep
  • Goats

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Tree limbs with wilting leaves found around pastures

Clinical Signs:

  • Slobbering
  • Increased respiration
  • Weak pulse
  • Convulsions
  • Pupil dilation

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • In cattle, 1.2-4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves can cause symptoms or death
  • In sheep, as little as 0.18-0.72 pound can cause symptoms or death

Identifying Characteristics:

  • Leaves are leathery in texture
  • Finely toothed margins
  • Alternate leaf pattern
  • White flowers
  • Bark is smooth when tree is young
  • Bark of larger trunks is thin and has long, narrow cracks, and is scaly

Plant Longevity:

  • Perennial

Where Commonly Found:

  • Pasture and forage interface
  • Shady areas

Time of Most Concern:

  • When leaves are wilted, although green leaves, twigs, bark , and seeds all contain toxic components

Compound that Causes Concern:

  • Cyanogenic glycosides: prunasin and amygdalin

Part of Plant Most Toxic:

  • Wilting leaves

Livestock Species Affected:

  • Cattle
  • Horses
  • Sheep
  • Goats

Pasture, Stored Feed, Both:

  • Tree limbs with wilting leaves found around pastures

Clinical Signs:

  • Slobbering
  • Increased respiration
  • Weak pulse
  • Convulsions
  • Pupil dilation

Amount Needed to be Consumed for Clinical Signs / Death:

  • In cattle, 1.2-4.8 pounds of wilted black cherry leaves can cause symptoms or death
  • In sheep, as little as 0.18-0.72 pound can cause symptoms or death

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_prse2.pdf

https://extension.psu.edu/cyanide-poisoning-of-livestock-from-cherry-tree-leaves

Radi et al. Prunus spp. intoxication in ruminants: a case in a goat and diagnosis by identification of leaf fragments in rumen contents. JVDI 16: 593-599 (2009)

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